Why Down South?
Are you hesitant about going to school down South? I know my friends thought I was crazy for going to school somewhere that was so different from home, but I don’t regret my decision one bit. I’m from a small town in Connecticut and I spent my summers in the Midwest, so I knew that I wanted to try a new part of the country when I went away to college. The South was my first choice, since California is just so far away from home, but a lot of people from my area aren’t very familiar with the South. You get a few every once in a while whose families are from Georgia or North Carolina–I’ve even met one who grew up in Memphis–but that’s about it. So, when I was deciding on where to go to school, I didn’t have many people with first-hand knowledge of the Nashville area to go to.
My best advice to those who are hesitant: go visit. The South is a beautiful place, and if you think it might be a good fit for you, it’ll likely win you over in just one visit. If you’re like me and you love sunshine and warmth, it’ll be that much more convincing to go experience a typical Nashville day in early November: 75 and sunny. If that doesn’t do it, then walk around campus or even take a short trip downtown to Nashville’s main tourist area, which some of you may have seen in the movie Country Strong.
I know there are a lot of opinions out there about the South as being a whole different world. Reese Witherspoon’s character in Sweet Home Alabama says it best: “People need a passport to come down here.” However, I’m definitely not a Southern Belle and I feel right at home; Nashville is a nice change without the culture shock people expect from the South. I’m not saying it’s not different than up North because it is; the weather’s warmer, the accents are thicker, the music is a lot more country, and you’re probably going to need a pair of cowboy boots or a hat at some point in your college career here, but my favorite difference is that honestly, the people are so much nicer!
Trust me, I know it might seem a little bit intimidating going to school in a totally unique part of the country, but I haven’t regretted my decision yet. Even though I’ve only been home for a few days now enjoying Thanksgiving Break at home, I already can’t wait to get back down to Nashville.